Educational appliance



T. MATHEWS, DECD. A. MATHEWS AND H. sucxnmmmm. EXECUTORS AND TRUSTEES.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

APPLlCATlON men 020.20. 1919 1,364,778. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

F. 7 656? y 2ZW 2 jnf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MATHEWS, 0F LEICESTER, ENGLAND; ANNIE MATHEWS AND HARRY BUGKI-IINGHAM EXECUTORS AND TRUSTEES OF W'ILL OF SAID THOMAS MATHEW'S, DECEASED.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed December 20, 1919.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS MATHEWS, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Appliances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to toys, kindergarten appliances and the like and concerns more particularly those made of cardboard.

The present invention has for its object a toy or educational appliance of simple form comprising a plurality of members bearing letters, figures or other characters and a carrier to which said members may be readily attached and from which they may be similarly detached, said members being interchangeable so that words, numbers and the like may be made up.

The characteristic feature of the toy or appliance is the carrier which consists of a card, board or similar body having a series of holes therein adapted to receive the members bearing the letters, and a backing of flexible material preferably of the same color as the face of the card. The flexible material at the back besides limiting the extent to which the members may be inserted into the holes, covers the latter at the back and being of the same color as the face of the card imparts to the latter a complete appearance when any or all of the holes are not filled by the members. Further, the flexibility of the backing enables the mem bers to be pressed out of the holes by pressure of the finger at the back.

The members bearing the letters, figures or other characters may consist of pieces of card or similar material to the carrier and are preferably of the same shape as the holes in the latter and adapted to it comparatively tightly therein so that when pressed into the same they will remain in position and may be similarly detached by forward pressure from the back.

In further describing the invention ref erence will be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a concrete embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of the carrier member having Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4:, 1921.

Serial No. 346,408.

a number of letter bearing members inserted therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a letter bearing member, and

Fig. 3 is a rear view of part of the carrier member showing the backing material attached thereto.

Referring to the drawing the toy or appliance consists of a sheet 1 of cardboard of a convenient size having formed therein a plurality of holes 2 preferably of elongated shape and arranged in horizontal rows. Stretched across and secured to the back of the carrier card 1 is a covering or backing 3 of twill or other suitable material of the same color as the face of the card, and provided for use with the carrier are a number of small pieces l of cardboard of the same shape and size as the holes 2 and adapted to fit therein, each piece 4 bearing a letter or other character, printed or otherwise suitably marked therein in a color distinct from that of the piece. By inserting appropriate letters or characters into suitable holes in the card, words, etc., may be made up and are supported by the carrier for eX- ample as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The pieces 4 may be made separately from the card 1 and of the same or of a different material and further may be different or similar in color to the card. Preferably however, when the holes 2 are punched or formed in the carrier card 1, the ejected pieces of card resulting from the punching operation are used to constitute the letter bearing members. i

It is intended that the letter-bearing members 4 shall fit into the holes 2 so that they will be retained in position by friction a slight pressure being required to insert them and remove them. To enhance the frictional engagement between the said parts the carrier 1 or the members 4; or both may be made of rubber or some similar material which by its flexibility will enable the desired result to be obtained.

It is proposed to use in conjunction with the device, illustrations of articles, animals. and various things each having its name printed underneath so that by the aid of same a child may make up the corresponding word with the lettered pieces and carrier.

What I claim then is:

A toy or educational appliance comprising a card having therein a plurality of holes of elongated shape and arranged in horizontal rows, a backing of flexible material stretched across and secured to the back of the card and of the same color as the face thereof, and a plurality of pieces of cardboard of the same shape and size as the holes and adapted to fit therein by pressure at the front and to be ejected therefrom by pressure applied at the back through the flexible backing, said pieces having letters or other characters marked thereon and being interchangeable substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS MATHEWS.

WVitnesses D. V. C. TAYLoR, GEORGE LESTER. 

